經律異相 46.52

46.52

Another ghost said, "Tongues grow all over my body. An axe comes and chops off my tongues, but as soon as they are cut, they grow back again without end. For what reason is this?" Maudgalyāyana replied, "In your former life, you were a man of the Way. When the Saṅgha appointed you to make honey syrup, the block of rock sugar was large and hard to dissolve; you chopped it with an axe and stole a mouthful with a mind of theft. Due to this cause and condition, your tongues are chopped in return."